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Volume 33   Number 10 Mar 8, 2009

        John the Baptist was a man born with purpose. The Book of John says that he was a man sent from God. John 1:6: There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
        From the time of his conception to the time of his birth, John's life was prophetically spoken of as a fulfillment of Old Testament foreshadowings of the one who would prepare the way for the Messiah Himself (read Malachi 3:1, Isaiah 40:3).
        In Luke Chapter 1, the angel Gabriel appears to John's father, Zacharias, and tells him of the birth of his son to come and the incredible calling on his life (Luke 1:11-17)). Luke 1:16: And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.
        Shortly after John's birth, his father spoke a prophetic word over the life of his son recorded in Luke 1:67-79: And you child will be called the prophet of the Highest; for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways, to give knowledge of salvation to His people by the remission of their sins, through the tender mercy of our God, with which the dayspring from on high has visited us; to give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.
        The Word tells us that John was filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother's womb (Luke 1:15), and he grew and became strong in spirit, and that he lived a secluded life in the deserts, dressed in camel's hair with a diet of locust and honey. Luke 1:80: So the child grew and became strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his manifestation to Israel. Mark 1:6: John was clothed with camel's hair and with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.
        John was completely sold out to the call on his life, and his sole purpose in life was to point people to the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ. John 1:8: He was not the Light but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
        John had no desire to exalt himself or his own plans in any way. In Luke 3:15-16, the Word gives us a clear view of his heart toward his position. Now as the people were in expectation, and all reasoned in their hearts about John, whether he was the Christ or not, John answered saying to all, "I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire."
        As great as the calling on John's life was, and as careful as he was to make sure he only lifted Jesus high, what happens to John by Chapter 7? In Luke 7:18-19 we see John doubting. The very purpose of his life and ministry and all that he had given his life for, John now is questioning the validity of it all. Then the disciples of John reported to him concerning all these things. And John, calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to Jesus, saying, "Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?"
        What is going on with John? Could it be that he, just like us, had moments when he questioned the word that God had spoken over his life? Did John, like us, have moments of discouragement and doubt? After all, by this point he had lost most of his disciples to Jesus, and he was locked in prison because of his ministry to Herod. Perhaps John was wondering, "Am I in the right place at the right time, or have I made a mistake?" We all have those times in our lives, and if we will take the time, as John and his disciples did, and go to the Lord seeking truth, we will find the answer to all the questions racing in our spirits.
        Jesus answered John's disciples with actions, not words. Luke 7:20-21: When the men had come to Him, they said, "John the Baptist has sent us to You, saying, ‘Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?'" And that very hour He cured many people of their infirmities, afflictions, and evil spirits; and to many who were blind He gave sight.
        I found it interesting that the word used in Verse 21 was "cured" not healed. The word cured here is translated in Greek "Therapeuo." This is where we get the English word therapy, and it means to serve, to give help to another, with the results of healing.
        What the Lord does when asked if He is the One to come is show them. It took time for the Lord to serve these sick and demon possessed people. John's disciples got to see the Lord in action, and they were able to see Him as a servant. They saw the character of the Son of God.
        After they saw this, in Verse 23 Jesus instructs them to tell John not to be offended: "And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me." These two things are vitally important when we find ourselves in a place like John found himself. We must remain focused on the Lord and His character, and we must not allow ourselves to be offended by the circumstances around us.
        Hebrews 12:14-15: Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord; look carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled.
        Hebrews 12:3: For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.
        In the hard times of discouragement and offense, we must take the time to put our focus back on the Lord, realizing that it truly is all about Him.

Matthew Clements